What are the unwritten rules in the Australian workplace?

The Australian workplace “is highly regulated”. Credit: Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

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In Australia, workplace codes of conduct differ from company to company, but some standard unwritten rules are generally followed in most businesses and industries. There are also a few unspoken rules in the Australian workplace that can evolve into a set of social norms. Here is how to navigate and familiarise yourself with these unwritten rules when starting a new job.

Key Points

The unwritten rules of a workplace can impact your career progression.
If you don't understand these unwritten rules, you may feel like you don’t fit in or are not performing well.
If you are in doubt about how things are done in your workplace, don’t be afraid to ask.
Experts say companies should help new employees navigate their way through the workplace’s unwritten rules.

After securing a new job in Australia, it’s essential to understand the company’s unspoken rules.

Robyn Johns, Associate Dean (Academic Staffing) and Associate Professor at UTS Business School, says unwritten rules change from company to company.

“They're pretty much what we refer to as a set of social norms, what people sort of live by within a particular organisation,” she explains.

Professor Johns adds that getting to know them can be quite challenging and can impact someone's career progression.

“If you're not following those unwritten rules and you're not aware of them, you might be seen not necessarily as a team player or not as somebody who fits into the culture of our organisation,” she said.

Professor Johns says some of these unspoken rules range from simple daily habits and behaviours to how one networks and builds relationships.

“Some of the others may have to do with how you build relationships and how you network. There's often unwritten rules around that within workplaces and also playing politics within the workplace — and how you maybe get there and deal with the internal politics of an organisation is a really important part”.

A diverse team of Australian professionals collaborating in a Sydney office. Credit: pixdeluxe/Getty Images

The tone and style of emails

The style and tone of emails are also important, Professor Johns highlights.

“Can you use emojis and exclamation marks and things like that? What's the etiquette around using those? And again, that may not necessarily be something that is written down. It's something that might be more informal as to how people communicate,” she says.

You can certainly put people offside with the way that you go about communicating through emails.
Robyn Johns, Associate Dean (Academic Staffing) and Associate Professor at UTS Business School

The Australian workplace “is highly regulated”

Christine Castley is the Chief Executive Officer of Multicultural Australia, an organisation based in Queensland that helps refugees, international students, people seeking asylum and migrants settle into their new life.

She says, Australia has a comprehensive system of workplace laws and regulations aimed at protecting the rights and well-being of workers. 

“I think a shock for people coming in from other countries is that the Australian workplace is, I think, very highly regulated, possibly more highly regulated than the workspaces of a lot of other countries, including on the bullying front.”

Nejat Basar is the Executive Producer of SBS Turkish. He was working in Turkiye for 20 years before moving to Australia.

“Bullying is a norm in Turkey. It's expected. It's like, ‘okay, the bosses need to be tough and the employees need to follow the orders’. While here [in Australia] there are clear-cut definitions of bullying and gender bias, [for example]”.

Sometimes not understanding the unwritten rules in the workplace can lead to a person becoming isolated. Credit: pixdeluxe/Getty Images

Multiculturalism and meeting protocols

Australians can voice disagreements in meetings, however the way disagreements are expressed can vary based on cultural norms and they usually do so in a respectful and constructive manner, Mr Basar says.

“There is this a work-culture of politeness [in Australia]. You have people who appear as if they agree. Like at first, they say, ‘oh, okay, yes, you're right. That's a good point’. And then [they] say just the opposite, they try to move the conversation in a different direction.

“In Turkey it’s more blunt. You say, ‘no, this is wrong; this is the right way of doing things,’” Mr Basar explains.

Socialising and team bonding

Sharing a coffee or tea break is a common practice for socialising and building relationships in Australia's workplace. 

However, some migrants may not be familiar with this practice, and might view it as unethical and time-wasting

Many migrants have never heard about “morning tea” before moving to Australia, Ms Castley says. 

Let's have a coffee means ‘let's catch up and let's connect’. But it becomes a really important point about connection, and I think it's understanding how you create those connections.
Christine Castley, Chief Executive Officer, Multicultural Australia

Australia Explained : meeting speaking up woman

After securing a new job in Australia, it’s essential to understand the company’s unspoken rules. Credit: xavierarnau/Getty Images

Sometimes not understanding the unwritten rules in the workplace can lead to a person becoming isolated, Ms Castley explains. 

Thus, while it’s important for companies to facilitate this process, workers can ease their transition by asking questions and seeking out a mentor or a “buddy”, Ms Castley recommends.

“What a person coming in as a migrant at the workplace could do when they start is to kind of say, ‘I need to understand the culture of the workplace to be able to perform to the best of my ability. What support can you give me as the employer to make sure that I'm doing the best for you?’”